Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-09-15
finished all rightp" he said az he lii

his cigarette.
FINISHED and framed, my boy" an
, swered Trevor; "and, by and by, 20,
: have made a conquest. That old mode
you saw is quite devoted to you.
J had to tell him all about you--who 20,
are. where you live, what your income
J is, what prospects you have"
J "My dear Alan" cried Hughie. 81
shall probably find him waiting for me
when l 60 home. But of course you
are only joking. Poor old beggar! ]
wish could do something for him.
think it is dreadful that any one should
be so miserable. have got heaps OF
old clothes at home-do you think he
would care for any of them? Why. his
rags were falling to bits"
| "But no looks splendid in them"
said Trevor. II wouldn't paint him in
II frock coat for anything. What you
call rags l call romance. What seems
poverty to you is picturesquencss to
me. However, I'll tell him of your
offer"
ALAN" said Hughie seriously. 'you
painters are heartless lot"
.An artists heart is his head" re-
piled Trevor; 'and besides, our
business is to realize the world as we
sec it, not to reform it as we know It.
A chdcun son meter. And now tell mo
how Laura is. Tho old model was
quite interested in her."
You don't mean to say you talked
to him about her," said Hughic.
Certainly l did. He knows all about
the relentless colonel, the lovely
damsel, and the 10000 pounds"
You told that old beggar all my
private affairs?" cried Hughie, looking
very red and angry.
MY dear boy" sad Trevor, smiling,
that old besgar. as you call him. is
one of the richest men in Europe. He
could buy all London tomorrow with
out overdrawing his account He has
a house in every capital. dimes off gold
plates, and can prevent Russia going
TO war when he CHI oosesp"
what on earth do you meanp" ex-
claimed Hughie.
What l say" said Trevor. The
old man you saw to-day was Baron
Hausberg. He is a great friend of
mine. buys all my pictures and that
sort Of thing. and gave commission
a month ago to paint him as beggar.
Que voulezCous? La fantaiSe dim mt
honaire' And l must say he made a
magnificent figure in his rags, or per-
haps | should say in my rags; they are
an old suit got in Spain"
Baron Hausberg" cried Hughie.
Good heavens! l gave him sover-
eignr and he sank into an arm chair
the picture of dismay.
Gave him sovereign shouted
Trevor. and he burst INTO roar of
laughter. my dear boy. you'll never
see it again. Son Gtaire c'est largem
deS autreS."
Il think you might have told me,
Alan" said Hughie, sulkily, land not
let me make such fool of myself"
"Wcll, to-begin with, Hughie," said
Trevor. sit never entered my mind
that you went about distributing aims
in that reckless way. can understand
your kissing pretty model but your
giving a sovereign to an ugly one-by
Jove. no! Besides. the fact is that |
really was not at home to-day to any
one; and when you come in / didn't
know whether Hausberg would like his
name mentioned. You know he wasn't
in full dress"
What n duf1er he must think mer'
said Hughie.
Not at all. He was in the highest
spirits after you left; kept chuckling to
himself and rubbing his old wrinkled
hands together. | couldn't make out
why he was so interested to know all
about you; but | see it all now He'll
invest your sovereign for you. Hughie,
pay you the interest every six months,
and have a capital story to tell after
| dinner"
Il am an unIucky devil" growled
Hughe. The best thing | can do is
to 60 to bed, and, my dear Alan.
you must not tell any one. | shouldn't
dare to show my face in the Row."
Nonsense! 1t reflects the highest
credit on your philantropc spirit,
Hughie. and don't run away. Have
another cigarette. and you can talk
about Laura as much as you like"
However, Hughic wouldn't stop, but
walked home, feeling very unhappy,
and leaving Alan Trevor in fits OF
laughter.
The next morning as he was at
breakfast, the servant brought him
card, on which was rtten, Monsieur
Gustave Naudin, de Ia part de NJ. lie
Baron Hausberg." II suppose he has
come for au apology" said Hughe to
himself; and he told the servant to
show the visitor up.
An old gentleman with gold specta-
Giles and gray hair came into the room
and said. in slight French accent,
Have the honor of addressing Mon
sieur Hugh Erskine?"
Hughie bowed.
II have come from Baron Hausberg,"
he continued. THE baron"
81 beg, sir, that you will offer him
my sincere apologies" said Hughie.
The baron" said the old gentle.
man, with smile. mas commissioned
me to bring you this letter." and he
handed Hagae sealed envelope.
On the the outside was written: "A
wedding present to Hugh Erskine and
Laura Merton, from an old beggar,"
and inside was a check for 10000
pounds.
When they were married Alan Ire
vor was the best man, and the Baron
made speech at the wedding break.
fast.
millionaire models" said Alan,